Burma

BURMA

(Operation Thursday) In March, 1944 gliders carved another niche for themselves in Burma. The allies devised a plan to concentrate a force behind Japanese lines to cut enemy rail and river communications. There were no handy roads and the landing areas were unprepared. Gliders were picked to fly certain troops, airborne engineers and equipment into the selected areas by night. Their job - seize and prepare landing strips so that additional troops and equipment could be flown in by transport planes. Although only a limited number of gliders were used, the operations were successful and troops and cargo were poured into the rear of the enemy positions. Most of these missions were accomplished at night. The Japanese were completely surprised and the overall operation successful.

"We were too high but no choice, so a violent slip got us into the edge of Broadway at about 120 MPH, not much control here. I had been told to turn left and to be used as a hospital ship. We hit a log buried in the grass and tore off the left gear and swerved right into position to the left side of the field (sheer luck!)."

"We buried some men the next day, one was a good friend."

Glider Pulled Into the Air from a Standing Start

A glider snatch was accomplished by a C-47 tow plane flying just above ground level with a hook trailing behind from a cable that played out from a revolving drum in its fuselage. The hook snagged a glider towrope suspended between two vertical poles sweeping it airborne behind the tow plane from a dead standstill to 120 mph in a matter of 7 seconds.

Glider snatch pickup by C-47

Used effectively in Burma! After unloading equipment loaded up with stretcher and walking wounded and then snatched out. Returned to Hospital in about 2 hours as opposed to two months by ambulance.